Portuguese Pride

Portuguese food is still relatively new in Singapore, so Boca, a new Portuguese restaurant on Bukit Pasoh Road, is a much welcome addition to our dining scene. The eatery was born when a group of homesick Portuguese friends working in Singapore yearned for the simple flavours of home. Housed in a charming three-storey shophouse, the restaurant is furnished with fixtures imported from Portugal. Ceramic black swallows, a national icon in Portugal, can also be found throughout the place. Bites are prepared by chef Luca Bordino and Francisco who are both natives themselves. Dig in to the tender and piquant Octopus Salad ($24) before beginning on the Flamed Chorizo ($36), a spicy sausage that is flambéed at your table. Get a taste of bacalhau (dried and salted cod), also known as the nation’s national ingredient, in the Açorda de Bacalhau ou Camarão ($28). This dish consists of homemade bread that has been aged for two days before being immersed in shrimp stock where it is left to simmer over a low flame. The umami flavour from the broth makes this an irresistable treat. Pair your meal with Portuguese wines such as the Quinta de Gomariz G. Escolha ($16 per glass).